Controversy and you the Author

This post is possibly going to step on some toes and I'll apologize in advance for that.  These thoughts are my own personal feelings and each person has to make the decision that feels right for them.  One of the first things I was taught in business was to never mix my personal ideas with what I am promoting.  As some of you know before I was an author, I was a professional musician, and a respiratory technician,  those same rules always applied.  When you work with the public and depend on them for your paycheck, you have to consider how your opinions are going to work against your bottom line.

The truth of the matter is as an author, unless you are pushing a very controversial book about the topic you're discussing, I feel it's best to keep your personal opinions away from such topics.  Nothing will turn away buyers faster than you the author, talking about a subject that your reader may disagree with you completely on.  It might not seem fair, and you may decide that you don't care what readers think, but I guarantee your sales will make a believer out of you.  If you don't mind losing sales for what you're going out on a limb talking about, by all means have at it.

I am a business person first, if I want to have a discussion about my political, religious, or any other belief I will go to my closest friends and family and do it behind closed doors.  I want my readers to buy my books because of the topics they are written about, and not get involved with outside interests.  Think I'm blowing steam here?  Look at the recent Chick-Fil-a explosion.  Do you think one person on either side of that equation cares about the food any longer?  It's just smart business to keep your personal issues out of your writing promotion.  And believe me if you're opening your mouth on social media, it's being heard by your readers.

We all have personal convictions and making the decision between what you are willing to sacrifice to have your thoughts heard is a decision each person has to make for themselves.  I prefer to keep my thoughts on politics, religion, and anything else that I deem might cause a social stir to myself.  I think it's professional and when I need to rant and rave about those topics, I do it in private.  Just my two cents on the whole public image thing.